Dean Park Grill & Pizza open for business

Thursday

Mar 27, 2014 at 6:00 AMMar 28, 2014 at 5:38 AM

By Barbara M. Houle CORRESPONDENT

The good news for fans of neighborhood restaurants is that Dean Park Grill & Pizza in Shrewsbury, formerly known as Dean Park Pizza, has reopened after being closed for a while. The property had been leased before Christo Baltas of Worcester took over the place and closed it for renovations that lasted for several months. He opened Dean Park Grill & Pizza about a month ago.

"We actually took the building down to the studs," said Baltas. "We threw everything out and started off new."

Baltas said he left the corporate world to reopen the family business.

Dean Park Grill & Pizza, at 749 Main St., Shrewsbury, had a long history as Dean Park Pizza.

There were several owners, including the Fotiadis family, who now own the Draught House Bar & Grill and tThe Manor Banquet Facility in West Boylston.

The last owner of Dean Park Pizza leased it for less than a year, according to Baltas.

Baltas' parents, Olga Baltas of Worcester and the late John Baltas, bought the property about 36 years ago and then opened a restaurant.

"My father was the behind-the-scenes kind of guy and had a knack for finding great business locations, while my mother is more the PR person," said Baltas. "My mother has this natural ability to make people feel comfortable, and she knows almost every customer who comes into the restaurant. If she doesn't know you, she'll make it a point to introduce herself."

Olga and John Baltas at one time owned the Heritage Restaurant in Sturbridge, which is now Wendy's.

Baltas said he and his four sisters all have worked in the family businesses at one time or another.

His sisters are Elaine Baltas and Maria Sahas, both of Worcester; Susan Palamaris of Taunton, owner of Hudson Roast Beef & Wing, a sandwich shop in Hudson; and Alexandra.

"The Shrewsbury property is a great location for a restaurant," said Baltas. "It attracts diners from the Worcester area and families that live nearby."

Baltas said his vision for Dean Park Grill & Pizza is to start off slow and keep the focus on fresh ingredients and food made from scratch.

"I'm a guy who majored in economics, not culinary arts," said Baltas. "But I grew up in the restaurant business, and I learned a lot from my parents.

"The restaurant is family-friendly, and the idea is to keep it nice and simple," said Baltas.

The menu offers diners a selection of specialty pizzas in addition to meals, soups and starters, salads, subs/wraps, burgers and "other things on bread."

"The pizza (sauce and crust) recipe is my father's," said Baltas, who has added a Greek Salad Pizza (dine-in only) to the list of new specialty pizzas.

Customers will find that some of Dean Park's favorites, such as half broiled chicken ($10.95), remain on the menu.

Baltas said "burgers are smashed to order," which means when they are cooked on a hot grill the intense heat and pressure sears in the juices from the beef. "Chicken Parm is pounded out daily," he said.

The restaurant has a liquor license, and customers can sit at a small bar (new) and enjoy dinner and a drink.

The décor is very pleasant, and Baltas is especially proud of the wall mural that was done by his wife, Carolyn, a graphic artist. The mural depicts "pieces" of Shrewsbury, he said.

"We're a family business and sometimes my wife and kids help out," said Baltas. The couple's children are John, Michael, Alexandra and William.

Dean Park Grill & Pizza is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant seats 90; telephone number is (508) 842-2584. There is parking in front and on either side of the building.

Stop in for a bite, and if Olga Baltas is working, be sure to welcome her back to the neighborhood.